"I hope to bring a fresh perspective from a working person's point of view," Perdue said Wednesday. "That's what I hope to bring to the Senate, and things like the corporate tax rate, repatriation tax, overregulation. And finally, we want to get this energy resource unlocked here in the United States."

Perdue's win with 53 percent of the vote meant that he would not face Democratic challenger Michelle Nunn in a runoff. He said he wasn't surprised that he wouldn't have to go through a runoff to decide who would fill the vacancy left by retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

"Our pollster, Chris Perkins, had this number pegged all along. We lost a little traction midway in the general election, to be candid. But we got up on TV again, got our message going. And once that message kept resonating out there, people responded to it. And we could feel that," he said.

Perdue said he began his campaign 18 months ago with a message that "the country was in a crisis, was headed in the wrong direction," adding that the idea was still "resonating right now."

Perdue's acceptance speech on Tuesday echoed his campaign sentiment, as he stressed the need for accountability and citizen involvement.

"This is not about me. I don't even think it's about Georgia. I think it's about our country, and we have an opportunity and you've got to stay involved. You've got to hold me accountable. You've got to hold our elected officials accountable, all of them.

"And I just want to tell you right now that with your help and God's will, we will change the direction of our country," Perdue said Tuesday night.